Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened in three French speaking markets over the weekend and while it didn't finish first, it still had a great start. In France the film earned $3,741,793 in 670 theaters for the best per theater average in the top ten. The result was similar in Belgium ($250,000) and Switzerland ($190,000), giving the film $4.2 million for the weekend.

Here's a round-up of box office news for movies appearing around the world:

• If there was one non-English speaking market that I thought The Wedding Crashers would be a big hit, that market would be Germany. But that was not the case as the film crashed with just $650,000 on 365 screens for a distant fourth place finish. In Austria and Switzerland the film performed better with $170,000 on 52 and $90,000 on 45 screens respectively. Meanwhile, the film was a hit in the U.K. with $3.22 million on 409 screens, but due to a crowded market the film couldn't finish better than third place.
• Local film, Heaven's Soldiers, opened in third place in South Korea during a crowded weekend at the top. Its $2,745,774 over the weekend and $3,115,296 since Thursday put it just behind the opening of Madagascar and War of the Worlds's sophomore stint.
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith saw its weekend haul in China slashed in half to $1.1 million. On the plus side, that was still strong enough for first place and gave the film a $4.6 million running tally. The film also opened in first place in Hungary with $225,000 over the weekend and nearly $300,000 since its midweek debut. It is also in the top ten in its two biggest markets, the U.K. ($380,000 this weekend for a $23.3 million total) and South Korea ($857,000 for a $20.3 million total). Overall the film has made $125.4 million in markets where Fox is handling the distribution and another $19 million in other markets.
• Sin City added $2.1 million to its international running tally of $40.2 million. Most of this week's revenue came from Australia where the film opened with $1.45 million, but the film also did well in Norway slipping by just 17% to $144,000 for a $525,000, two-week total. Things weren't as rosy in Sweden with a 48% drop-off to $195,000 for the weekend and $580,000 total.
• Herbie: Fully Loaded opened in Brazil with $465,000, but it was Australia where the film earned the bulk of its $1.9 million this weekend. In the latter market the film managed $605,000 on 275 screens for a $6.6 million, four-week total, which is more than two-thirds of the film's $9.7 million international total.
• Bewitched lost 47% of its opening weekend box office during its sophomore stint, leaving it with $1.42 million for the weekend and $5.68 two week total in the market.
• House of Wax opened in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend earning $580,000 and $106,000 respectively. But the film's best market this weekend was Spain, thanks to a better than expected sophomore stint; the film fell just 47% to $620,000 lifting its total in the market to $2.275 million and $30.8 million internationally.
• The fourth film in the Whispering Corridor series, Voice, opened in its native South Korea earning a fourth place finish with $1,265,637 over the weekend and $1,432,904 since its midweek opening.
• Les Poupees Russes, a.k.a., The Russian Dolls, opened in Russia over the weekend but could do no better than $50,000 over the weekend. On the other hand, it added $828,199 on 601 screens in France to its 5-week total of $15,559,825 in its home market.
• Fly, Daddy, Fly grew by 30% during its second weekend in Japan earning $801,306 on 211 screens for a $2,339,006 total.
• The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl opened in Mexico with $740,000 on 340 screens, which is a middling start in such a family friendly market.
• The Descent had the best week-to-week drop-off in the top ten in the U.K. slipping by just 28% to $720,000 for the weekend and $2.5 million during its run.
• In Spain, local comedy Semen, una historia de amor snagged fifth place with $580,000 on 224 screens. As for the name, I don't know what it means, nor am I going to even guess.
• Monster-In-Law made its debut in Russia with $510,000 over the weekend and $640,000 overall.
• The Hong King film, New Police Story opened in France with a fifth place, $462,017 opening on 179 screens.
• Valiant saw its wings clipped in Spain falling to $460,000 for the weekend and $1.8 million during its run. So far the film has earned $24.6 million internationally, mostly from the U.K. where it has earned just shy of $15 million.
• George A. Romero's Land of the Dead made its international debut in two markets, Italy and Mexico. In the former market it earned a second place finish with $364,887 on 163 screens for the best per screen average in the market. In the latter market the film was no so fortunate as it grabbed just $148,000 on 75 screens.
• The Longest Yard opened in Thailand and Jordan over the weekend bringing in $110,000 and $30,000 respectively. In New Zealand the film held up poorly compared with the rest of the top ten dropping 7% to $250,000 compared with a 30% increase by the rest of the films. So far the The Longest Yard has earned just $11.6 million internationally, the vast majority from its $8.1 million in Australia.
• Boogeyman couldn't maintain what little momentum it had, free-falling by 66% during its second weekend in Italy landing at $269,167 for the weekend and $1,678,548 during its run.
• A Lot Like Love dropped by 53% during its second weekend in Spain to $250,000, which is about average for the market. On the other hand, it plummet by 81% in Germany to $72,000 and 80% in the U.K. to $42,500.
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's debut in Bulgaria was a bit of a shock as the Sci-Fi comedy snagged top spot with $26,000. On the other hand, a busy weekend for wide releases in Germany caused most holdovers to get hammered and this film was no exception as it plummeted 70% to just $175,000 for the weekend, which still lifted the film's total to $7,387,789 in the market and $42 million internationally.
• Danny the Dog added another $147,519 to its $3,022,463, four week total in Japan. The film also opened in Poland over the weekend with $40,000 on 35 screens, for a distant fifth place finish.
• The Interpreter has nearly dropped off the radar screens but did add $175,000 during the week in France for a $6 million box office in the market and $151 million worldwide.
• Are We There Yet? opened in New Zealand just missing the top five with $156,000 on 49 screens. Overall the film has struggled internationally with just $14.75 million so far.
• Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was one of the few films not to see growth in New Zealand this week as it dipped 3% to $29,000 for a $90,000 two-week total. On the other hand, the film earned $120,000 in Australia lifting its total there to $1.23 million.
• The Upside of Anger had one of the better week-to-week drop-offs in Germany declining by a mere 63% to $99,000. On the other hand, the film fell by just 33% in Austria for $37,000 for the week. The film has earned $514,000 and $93,000 in those two markets respectively and $5.3 million internationally.
• After a better than expected opening in Hong Kong, Sahara lost more than 80% in a free-fall to just $28,000. On the other hand, the film grew 135% during its second weekend in Sweden, finishing with $63,250 for the week and $90,600 during its run.
• Lords of Dogtown opened in Italy and did as well as one would expect, making $81,376 on 102 screens.
• Pooh's Heffalump Movie exploded in New Zealand, shooting up by 137% to $73,000 for the weekend and $180,000 for its run. However, a lot of films saw substantial increases in that market and Pooh's Heffalump Movie wasn't even the fastest growing film in the top ten.
• Nicotina snagged 14th place in its debut in Germany with $70,448 on 26 screens.
• Melinda and Melinda had one of the better week-to-week performances in Germany this weekend, but still tumbled 56% to $64,000. The film now has nearly $750,000 in the market and more than $15.3 million internationally.
• National Lampoon's Gold Diggers added another $54,000 to its $300,000 total in Russia.
• Racing Stripes opened in eighth place in Sweden with $51,000 on 35 screens, but despite that setback, its $34.7 million international box office is better than one would expect given the target audience of the film.
• King's Ransom opened in South Africa with $41,000 on 16 screens, which is more than I thought it would make.
• Because of Winn-Dixie opened in Australia with just $37,000 on 119 screens.
• My Summer of Love added another $30,000 to its box office in Australia for $200,000, three-week total.
• Guess Who debuted in just 5 theaters in Sweden, but its $21,000 was enough to reach ninth place. So far the film has brought in just $19.4 million internationally, which is not surprising given its subject matter.
• Kung Fu Hustle opened in a few more markets this week finishing out of the top ten in the Netherlands with $20,000, and in tenth place in Belgium (no box office data is available) and Brazil (box office data should be available next week). The film has $96.4 million worldwide, but unless it's a big hit in Australia when it opens in August, it will likely miss the $100 million mark.
• Being Julia is showing amazing resilience in Italy, which is not surprising since that market is generally kind to Oscar contenders and limited releases. This week the film added $18,230 on just 17 screens for a six-week total of $543,982.
• Five Children and It had the best week-to-week performance in New Zealand skyrocketing by 155%, however, it had such a poor performance during its opening that it still only managed $15,700 on 48 screens.
• Steamboy opened in Hong Kong, bringing in just $2,000 in its lone theater. Expectations for this film were high, perhaps too high; it really never had a chance.
• The Pacifier slipped out of the top ten in France, again, but not before hitting $5 million in the market and $195.5 million worldwide.

• For some reason there's been a long delay in getting the Japanese box office numbers, but they're finally in and there are a few films needing an update. For instance, Samurai Commando 1549 added $162,927 this weekend to its $14,616,085 running tally in the market, which is about $3 million ahead of Batman Begins in the market.
• Million Dollar Baby dropped out of the top then in Japan but not before earning $11.25 million in the market. That puts the last reliable international box office number at $115.6 million.
• The Ring 2 wrapped up its run in the top ten in Japan a couple of weeks ago but before it fell off radar screens it managed $2.4 million in the market and $82.9 million internationally.

Submitted by: C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2005-07-24